Cosentyx (secukinumab) is a brand-name injection prescribed for plaque psoriasis and certain types of arthritis. It works to treat these conditions by slowing down an overactive immune system.

Cosentyx treats the following conditions, which all involve inflammation in your body:

To learn more about these conditions and how Cosentyx is used for them, see this article.

What Cosentyx does

Cosentyx belongs to a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. (A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.) Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that affect your immune system, which is your body’s defense against infections.

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a type of protein that can cause inflammation (swelling and damage). IL-17A can contribute to the conditions Cosentyx treats, making your symptoms worse. People with these conditions have higher levels of IL-17A in their blood than people without these conditions.

Cosentyx works by binding to IL-17A and preventing it from working. This decreases the amount of inflammation in your body.

The conditions Cosentyx treats all worsen because of inflammation. By preventing the inflammation from occurring, Cosentyx should help ease your symptoms.

How long Cosentyx takes to work depends on the condition the drug is treating. In clinical trials:

  • About 80% of people with plaque psoriasis who took Cosentyx had their symptoms ease by at least 75% in just 12 weeks. This is compared to 4% of people who took a placebo (treatment with no active drug).
  • Up to 60% of people with psoriatic arthritis who took Cosentyx had their symptoms ease by at least 20% after 16 weeks. This is compared to 18% of people who took a placebo. Some people who took Cosentyx saw an improvement in as little as 3 weeks.
  • About 61% of people with ankylosing spondylitis who took Cosentyx had their symptoms ease by at least 20% after 16 weeks. This is compared to 28% of people who took a placebo.
  • About 40% of people with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who took Cosentyx had their symptoms ease by at least 40% after 16 weeks. This is compared to 28% of people who took a placebo.
  • Up to 85% of people with enthesitis-related arthritis who took Cosentyx had their symptoms ease by at least 30% in 12 weeks. When compared to a placebo, Cosentyx reduced the risk of a flare-up from enthesitis-related arthritis by 53%.

However, each person’s body reacts differently to medication, so you may see results more quickly or more slowly.

If you’d like to learn more about Cosentyx, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about how the drug works in your body.

If you’d like to learn about other aspects of Cosentyx, you can explore these articles:

  • More information about Cosentyx. For details about other aspects of Cosentyx, refer to this article.
  • Side effects. To learn about side effects of Cosentyx, see this article. You can also look at the Cosentyx prescribing information.
  • Cost. If you’d like to learn about Cosentyx and cost, see this article.
  • Drug comparison. To learn how Cosentyx compares with Humira, read this article. For more information about how Cosentyx compares with Stelara, see this article.
  • Dosage. For information about the dosage of Cosentyx, view this article.
  • A look at Cosentyx for psoriasis. For details about Cosentyx for psoriasis, see this article.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.